In preparation for COP30, various institutions and social movements came together to organize a powerful demonstration denouncing the harmful impacts of major transport infrastructure projects in the Amazon, particularly river ports and the Ferrogrão railway project. At the same time, they sought to promote development proposals that respect the peoples, cultures, and territories of the Amazon.
This mobilization brought together social movements, Indigenous Peoples, riverside communities, and quilombola farmers—descendants of formerly enslaved Africans who resisted slavery in Brazil and who continue to preserve their cultural identity while defending their ancestral lands and rights—in a “Fluvial Convoy” that began in Sinop, Mato Grosso, a center of agribusiness activity. From there, participants traveled by land and river to Belém, raising awareness about the violations caused by these large-scale projects while reaffirming the urgent need to defend and protect Amazonian territories.
The convoy aimed to embody the spirit of a “People’s COP30” in concrete terms. Participants joined local leaders in collaborative work, marches, the barqueata (a boat demonstration), and mobilization in the Green Zone. Together, they strongly proclaimed: “We are the answer,” while denouncing projects that destroy life and threaten Indigenous lands and traditional communities.
These actions received wide visibility on social media, helping strengthen the movement to demarcate Indigenous and traditional territories and expand the reach of denunciations by affected peoples and grassroots organizations.
The convoy also became a space for exposing major territorial conflicts, which naturally brought moments of tension. For many participants, it was their first experience in such a large-scale mobilization. Despite the challenges, unity, collective coordination, and the spiritual strength of the communities enabled them to overcome difficulties and move forward together.
As one of the leaders shared:
“We came out of this convoy stronger and more determined to continue fighting for our territory. We want to be recognized as an area of life and respect for dignity.”
The message remains clear: the demarcation of territories is urgent in addressing the climate crisis. Mining, large-scale agribusiness projects, and deforestation on Indigenous lands threaten not only the culture and lives of Indigenous Peoples, but also the future of the planet itself.
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